The Minister of Education, Hon. Douglas Syakalima
Representatives from the Ministry of Health,
All Government Officials
The Chairman of the Executive Board for SBU and his Executive members present
All Religious Superiors and Representatives of various Religious congregations present
Representatives of Our Sponsors, Savendah
Representatives of Different Universities Present, UNZA, Cavendish, Unilus, St. Dominic, St. Augustine, Kabwe
All teaching and non teaching staff from SBU and all the participating universities
All Students from SBU, UNZA, Cavendish, Unilus, St. Dominic, St. Augustine and other learning Institutions here present,
All invited Guests here present,
Good Morning.
I would like to please welcome you to this year’s World Philosophy Day.
World Philosophy Day was introduced in 2002 by UNESCO (the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) with the following objectives:
- To renew the national, subregional, regional and international commitment to philosophy;
To foster philosophical analysis, research and studies on major contemporary issues, so as to respond more effectively to the challenges that are confronting humanity today;
To raise public awareness of the importance of philosophy and its critical use in the choices arising for many societies from the effects of globalization or entry into modernity;
To appraise the state of philosophy teaching throughout the world, with special emphasis on unequal access;
To underline the importance of the universalization of philosophy teaching for future generations.
Background
In 2005 the UNESCO General Conference proclaimed that World Philosophy Day would be celebrated every third Thursday of November.
Why a Philosophy Day?
For UNESCO, philosophy provides the conceptual bases of principles and values on which world peace depends: democracy, human rights, justice, and equality.
2021 Observance
World Philosophy Day 2021 opens the discussion on the different interactions of human beings with their social, cultural, geographical and political environment, with the underlying objective of better understanding the contribution of philosophy in our contemporary societies and the challenges they face, the pandemic in particular.
Philosophy, and even more so intercultural philosophy, is concerned with context and is therefore, in its very essence, concerned with the transformation of society.
For us Here at MICC
It is from the above that the organisers of this event, St Bonaventure University and their partnering universities, are inviting us to reflect on the place of philosophy in education curricula and pandemics, particularly covid-19 virus.
Closing Remarks
On behalf of the organisers, I would like to thank everyone who participated on this rare but great event where we gathered to celebrate philosophy.
One of the criticisms usually leveled against this discipline is that it does not bring food to the table.
As we conclude this event, let me give you an analogy that may help us reflect about philosophy as we go back home.
Imagine a family of four, two children and their parents.
Behind every science that you can think of there is a philosophy.
There is a way of perceiving reality, there are principles that work as guidelines to all the activities that make that science.
This is the reason why the highest qualification in every field is a PhD in … meaning a doctor of philosophy.
As we go, let us reflect on how we can restore the place this invisible science so that it takes its rightful place and does not come by by the way.
Thank you.
